THE WINDOW

" Not for the Empress of Mexico/' she added,
laughing at Jasper; for he shared his mother's
vice: he, too, exaggerated.

And if Rose liked, she said, while Jasper took
the message, she might choose which jewels she
was to wear. When there are fifteen people
sitting down to dinner, one cannot keep things
waiting for ever. She was now beginning to feel
annoyed with them for being so late; it was in-
considerate of them, and it annoyed her on top of
her anxiety about them, that they should choose
this very night to be out late, when, in fact, she
wished the dinner to be particularly nice, since
William Bankes had at last consented to dine with
them; and they were having Mildred's master-
piece—Bceuf en Daube. Everything depended
upon things being served up the precise moment
they were ready. The beef, the bayleaf, and the
wine—all must be done to a turn. To keep it
waiting was out of the question. Yet of course
to-night, of all nights, out they went, and they
came in late, and things had to be sent out, things
had to be kept hot; the Boeuf en Daube would be
entirely spoilt.

Jasper offered her an opal necklace; Rose a
gold necklace. Which looked best against her
black dress? Which did indeed? said Mrs.
Ramsay absent-mindedly, looking at her neck and

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